Lamp-clamping socket.



n. B. @BENIAMIN.

LAMP CLAMPING SUCKET.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLICATDN FILED APR II 1913 R. B BENJAMIN.

LAMP CLAMPING SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR H, 1913.

1,167,473, Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, O1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CURPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LAMP-CLAMPING SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BnNaAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Clamping Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear,

concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention pertains to lamp clamp ng sockets; that is to say, to sockets of the k nd in which means are provided for clamping the lamp against accidental loosening, due to vibration or like causes.

It is the principal object of my invention to improve upon sockets of this character and to provide for a simple and economical construction which will permit the lamp to be efficiently retained in the socket in spite of any shaking or vibration which may be imparted to the latter.

Two forms of socket embod ing my invention are described, by way 0 example, in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other constructions than those shown and described, without exceeding the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an inverted plan of a lamp clamping socket constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the lower part shown in vertical section; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lamp clampin member; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation 0 another form of socket constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but looking in a direction at right angles to that from which Fig. 5 is viewed; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, a lamp being shown in the socket and the clamping member being pressed inwardly; Fig. 8 IS an inverted plan of the socket; and Fig. 9 is a perspective detail view of one of the clamping members.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the following specification and the several figures of the accompanying drawings.

The socket shown in Figs. 1-3 is of a kind the general construction of which is well known in the art. It includes a base member 10, which supports the center contact 11, and to which is secured a second base member 12, which carries the threaded contact 13.

The upper end of the chamber 14 is enlarged so as to form a rectangular chamber 15, the sides of which are curved, at 16 so as to accommodate the threaded shell 13. A U-shaped member, consisting of two arms 17 connected by a cross-piece 18, is mounted in the chamber 15, with its arms 17 in engagement with the side walls of the chamber, whereb lateral movement of these arms is prevente The U-shaped member is made of a single piece of stout wire, bent into the form shown, so that the middle portions of the arms 17 are enabled to 5 ring away from each other, into the curve portions 16 of the chamber, when lateral pressure is applied to their inside edges. The arms 17 pass through slots 19, formed in the shell 13 so as to follow the threads thereof, the U- shaped member thus assuming the tilted position shown in Fig. 2. The U-shaped member is held against vertical movement by reason of its engagement with the upper and lower edges of the slots 19.

It will be seen from the above description that the middle parts of the arms 17 project within the normal inner surface of the threaded sleeve 13, and that, these arms being resilient, they can be sprung out to follow the surface of the threaded sleeve 13 when pressure is applied to their inner edges. When a lamp base is screwed into the base 13, its threads, following the threads of the sleeve, ride up upon the arms 17 and force the latter outward, so that, when the lamp is in position in the socket, the arms 17 have been sprung outward so as to substantially follow the surface of the thread of the sleeve 13. The arms 17, by reason of their resiliency tend to return to their straight condition, and consequently exercise a powerful clamping effect upon the lamp base. This clamping effect is sufficient to retain the lamp in the socket in spite of any vibrations to which the latter may be subjected. At the same time, such clamping effect is not suflicient to prevent the insertion or withdrawal of a lamp when desired.

In Figs. 5-9 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of my invention.

In these figures 20 represents an insulating base having a circularchamber 21 therein for receiving the threaded lamp contact 22. The chamber 21 is formed with two oppositely disposed pairs of vertical angular recesses 23. In each pair of recesses 23, is mounted a clamping member consisting of an upwardly extending arm 24, a downwardly extending arm 25 and a transverse member 26, such clamping members being formed by bending, from a single piece of wire. The arm 24 does not lie in the plane through 25 and 26, but extends ofi slightly to the side thereof as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. The upwardly extending arm 24 and the downwardly extending arm 25 of each clamping member is disposed in one or the other of the recesses 23 of each pair of recesses, the extreme ends of these arms bearing against the walls of the recesses. The transverse portions 26 extend through slots 27 formed 1n the threaded sleeve 22 so as to follow the thread of such sleeve. When a lamp is inserted in the socket, the transverse members 26 are caused to spring outward, and, at the same time, the arms 24 and 25 are sprung toward a position in which they would occupy the Same plane, Fi 8. A clamping action is thus obtained similar to that described above with respect to the construction shown in Figs. 1-4.

It will be noted that, by means of my in vention, I rovide a lamp-gripping socket which is 0 an extremely simple construction, while being at the same time highly efiicient. The lamp-clamping member is sup orted against the lateral pressure of the amp base by the insulating body of the socket, whereby a construction which is reliable and not easily deranged is obtained. The gripping members being supported laterally merely b means of shoulders on the insulating ha y and vertically merely by means of the slots in the threaded sleeve, the assembling of the socket is a very simple matter, it being merely necessary to lace the clamping members in position beore assembling the portions of the'socket. By means of the construction disclosed in Figs. 5-10, in which the required resiliency of the clamping members is obtained by the bending of the arms 24 and 25 as well as by the bending of the transverse member 26, I am enabled to apply the clamping members to sockets the castings of which are of comparatively small dimensions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an electric lamp socket includin an insulating body, of a resilient lamp-c amping member carried by said socket and adapted to be distorted by the lamp base when a lamp is inserted in the socket, said insulating body comprising means for laterally supporting said clamping member.

2. The combination with an electric lamp socket including an insulating body having a shoulder thereon, of a lamp-clamping and adapted to be distorted by the lamp base when a lamp is inserted in the socket. said inclosing means comprising means for laterally supporting said clamping member.

5. The combination with an electric lamp socket including lamp contacts and means inclosing said contacts, said inclosing means being formed with a pair of shoulders and a depression between said shoulders, of a lamp-clamping member with its side engaging said shoulders so as to be laterally supported at its ends thereby.

6. The combination with an electric lamp socket including a threaded lamp contact having a slot therein and means inclosing said threaded contact, of a lamp-clamping member extending through said threaded contact, said inclosing means comprising means for laterally supporting said clampin member.

The combination with an electric lamp socket including a threaded lamp contact having a slot therein following the thread thereof and means inclosing said threaded contact, of a lamp clamping member extending through said threaded contact, said inclosing means comprising means for laterally supporting said clamping member.

8. The combination with an electric lamp socket including an insulating body, of a pair of oppositely disposed spring lampclamping members carried by said socket and earing against the said body and positioned in the path of the lamp base and adapted to be distorted by the lamp base when a lamp is inserted in the socket, said lamp-clamping members being laterally supported by said insulating body.

9. The combination with an electric lamp socket including lamp contacts and means inclosing said contacts, said inclosing means being formed with two pairs of shoulders having depressions between each pair, of a' pair of cylindrically disposed lamp-clampmg members with their ends engaging said shoulders so as to be laterally supported at their ends thereby.

socket for supporting the ends of said member laterally.

11. In combination, a threaded lamp contact having a slot therein, a resilient member extending-at its center part, through said slot, and means fixed wlth respect to said threaded contact for supporting the ends of said member laterally.

12. In combination, a threaded lamp contact having a slot therein following the thread thereof, a resilient member extending, at its center part, through said slot, and means fixed with respect to said threaded contact for supporting the ends of said member laterally.

13. In combination, a threaded lamp contact having a plurality of slots therein following the thread thereof, a plurality of symmetrically disposed resilient members each extending, at its center art, through one of said slots, and means xed with respect to said threaded contact for supporting the ends of said members laterally.

14. The combination with an electric lamp socket including an insulating body having a shoulder, of a spring bar in said socket having an end engaging said shoulder and having an intermediate part spaced from said socket member and positioned in the ath of the lamp base, whereby the spring ar will be distorted by the lampbase when the lam is inserted in the socket.

15. Tile combination with an electric lamp socket including an insulating body, of resilient lamp clamping means carried by said body and positioned .to be laterally distorted when the lamp is inserted in the socket, said insulating body being provided with means for supporting said resilient means to resist said lateral distortion.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub? scribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

Witnesses CHARLES G. Cor-E, ANNE SOLOMON.

said threaded contact for supporting the ends of said member laterally.

'12. In combination, a threaded lamp contact having a slot therein following the thread thereof, a resilient member extending, at its center part, through said slot, and means fixed with respect to said threaded contact for supporting the ends of i said member, laterally.

13. Incomhination, a threaded lamp contact having a plurality of slots therein following the thread thereof, a plurality of symmetrically disposed resilient members each extending, at its center art, through one of said slots, and means xed with rethe Patent Ollice.

[sun] Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,167,473.

spect to saidthreaded contact for supporting the ends of said members laterally.

14. The combination with an electric lamp socket including an insulating body having a shoulder, of a spring bar in said socket having an end engaging said shoulderand;

having an intermediate part spaced from said socket member and positioned in the ath of the lamp base, whereby the spring a'r will be distorted by the lampbase who the lamp is inserted in the socket.

15. The combination with an electric lamp socket including an insulating body,-

of resilient lamp clamping means carried by said body and positioned to be laterally distorted when the lamp is inserted. in the socket, said insulating body being provided with means for supporting said resilient means to resist saidlateral distortion.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subs scribed my name in the presence'of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters li'atent hi0. 1,167,473, granted January 11, 1916, upon the application of Reuben B. Benjamin, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in Lamp-Clamping Socketsf an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 127, claim 9, ior the word cylindrically? read symmetrically; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may-conform to the record of the casein Signed is sealed this 9th day of May, A. D., 1916.

(R. F. WHITEHEAD,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Ifatent No. 1,167,473, granted January 11, 1916, upon the application of Reuben B. Benjamin/of Chicago, Illinois for an improvement in Lamp-Clamping Sockets," an error appears in the printed specificetion requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 127, claim 9, for the word cylindrieally read symmetrically; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May A. D., 1916.

[SEAL] R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 173-358. 

